CLUB NEWS

Pitch Update

I visited Jo Hood this morning with Simon Clapperton and met with the Council.

The Council have remarked the pitches and sanded the goal mouths and done some other maintenance work and as you will see from the picture they are looking good. The pictue is the well sanded goal mouth that was the worst a few weeks ago. So all should be well for the weekend although it threatens to be very wet on Saturday afternoon and the forecast for next week gives cause for concern. At the moment the pitches are a credit to the Council. They have as good a cover of grass as we have seen for a few years but the weather has been kind.

The purpose of our meeting was to discuss the arrangements for our ground at the end of the season; when we wll finish at the Hood and the maintenance works that will be carried out. The Council will take the goals down on the 31st March and carry out serious maintenance work to pitches 1 and 3 (Nearest and furthest) straight away. This will involve rotovation, topsoiling to level and remove the hollows that have formed over the years and reseeding extensively. The objective is to get the pitches to a much improved state.With regard to pitch 2 (temp goals) we can keep using this pitch until Sunday April 15th. Then they will carry out the maintenace work as necessary to this pitch. The use of temporary goals has really helped the condition of this pitch. This means that we will be able to play at our home ground on Good Friday (Long Good Friday Presidents XI v Captains XI) and mid week and weekend fixtures doubling up as necessary to finish our SAL fixtures for all teams as far as we can. In this regard in the past we have been protective of our pitches to preserve them as much as possible. With the season drawing to its close and in view of the work that is to be carried out we should play as much as possible and be less cautious.

Max Herbert

Mark Chappell is walking 100Km for charity

Raising money for Oxfam by taking part in Trailwalker UK 2012. Please sponsor me at www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Deerfoot_Trailwalker

Vets Team

There are 2 leagues being run on a Saturday purely for over 35's (vets) - Sutton and District and the West London Vets League. Would you be interested in playing Vets football for Merton next season? this would obviously mean not playing for the team that youare currently playing for. This is purely hypothetical at present, I am simply establishing interest levels before I take an official proposal to the committee.

please email Mark Thomas: mthommo@hotmail.co.uk

Referee Course

We have a limited number of places available on a basic referees course being run in partnership with The Middlesex FA. The course is being held at Enfield Rangers FC, Carterhatch Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4LJ and starts on Monday 13th February in the evening. It continues over two Saturday all day sessions and the examinations will be held on Saturday 3rd March.

Course Applications

Applications for the course can be made online and candidates can be assured of a place as soon as they complete the online details,submit the course fee and click to confirm. Here is a link to the webpage: www.eventspace.thefa.com/amateur-fa/120112

First Aid Course

The first aid course will be held on the evening of Tuesday 21st February 2012 at the Clubhouse at Joseph Hood. If you have put your name down please attend on that date.

2011/12 CUP DRAWS

The recently announced AFA, SAL and SCFA Cup draws have produced the proverbial ‘mixed bag’ for our teams; with Joseph Hood seemingly centre stage this season for those spectators who enjoy their cup football. Astonishingly, the Club will host no fewer than 11 of the 14 ties to be played.

Good luck to our teams in their pursuit of cup glory and silverware.

All available dates are listed on the Fixtures page and are subject to change.

CLUBHOUSE

PLEASE DO NOT CLEAN YOUR BOOTS IN THE SHOWER

This causes the showers to flood into the changing rooms. The club will be providing scrubbing brushes and buckets for use outside the changing rooms. Also if you are the last one out of the showers/changing room can you turn off the showers taps

PLEASE DO NOT EAT FOOD IN THE MAIN BAR

Please use the tables provided in the main hall.

PARKING BY THE PAVILION

We have again had a complaint from the Council about Cars parking by the Pavilion at Joseph Hood.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can you use the Car Park by the main entrance, and only drive to the Pavilion if you are delivering something to the Clubhouse (heavy Kit etc) - and then park back at the Car Park afterwards.The Council have threatened us with replacing the lock on the swing gate and not providing us with a key.

This will have serious repercussions to the Bar deliveries etc. and one we must avoid at all costs. We will ask all Club officials to challenge anyone that drives down to the Pavilion. I appreciate that we are not the only culprits and the Committee has raised this fact with the Council to ensure we do not get the blame for other Park Users indiscretions.

Thanks,

The Committee

POLICIES

MERTON FOOTBALL CLUB SELECTION POLICY

For details of Merton's Team Selection policy please visit the Team Sheet page. Back to top

COMMUNICATIONS

Managers can choose whatever methods they deem necessary to communicate with other managers but they should be mindful that communications should be restricted to only those that need to know. This is to protect the work life balance of all those who volunteer their time to help run Merton Football Club.

Where players are selected in a different squad from the week before, each manager should carefully consider how they communicate this change to the affected player and explain reasons for the decision.

A selection meeting will take place each month to review the effectiveness of the selection policy.